---
layout: post
title: "How To Build An Ultra Cheap Computer To Start Programming"
date: 2012-09-03
comments: false
categories:
 - Programming
 - Computer
 - raspberry
 - Linux
 - Low Price
---

<div class='post'>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You want to start programming but don't have quite the capacity or desire to spend much on it. Here is the solution,you can build your own Raspberry PI based PC. With the availability of cheap computers as low as $25 you can reduce the cost to a figure that wouldn't have been possible &nbsp;even 5 years before.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here is what you will need:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A Raspberry pi ($25)</span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A prepared SD card($9)at <a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/SANDISK-16GB-MICRO-SD-HC-MICROSD-MEMORY-CARD-16-GB-/250912887595?pt=PDA_Accessories&amp;hash=item3a6b92d32b" target="_blank">ebay</a></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A 22 inch Samsung LCD($50) at <a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Samsung-SyncMaster-220WM-22-Widescreen-LCD-Monitor-Black-/271046622048?pt=Computer_Monitors&amp;hash=item3f1ba33b60" target="_blank">ebay</a></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Logitech keyboard mouse bundle($25) at <a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Logitech-MK120-Keyboard-Mouse-Desktop-PC-Wired-Slim-Spill-Resistant-Combo-Set-/130760075742?pt=AU_Input_Peripherals&amp;hash=item1e71e869de" target="_blank">ebay</a></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Micro USB power supply, capable of providing at least 700mA at 5V</span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ethernet LAN cable</span></li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.raspberrypi.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Raspi_Iso_Blue.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="234" src="http://www.raspberrypi.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Raspi_Iso_Blue.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #373737; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: left;">Now,let me explain, A&nbsp;Raspberry&nbsp;pi is an ultra cheap computer with very basic but&nbsp;sufficient hardware &nbsp;which will cost you just $25. You will need to connect other parts on your own. It is so small in size that when you will receive the shipment you won't believe it could actually be &nbsp;a computer.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #373737; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #373737;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">Moving on, right now we have Linux as OS, which has to be &nbsp;prepared in SD cards.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #373737;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">You can download and prepare your SD cards using the information is this link:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads" target="_blank">SD Cards</a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #373737;">As recommended you should start with Raspbian "wheezy". It is based on Debian and it will not give you any trouble setting it up , also it</span>&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #373737; line-height: 24px;">includes Python, gcc, and a range of example applications.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #373737;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">Digital Audio is&nbsp;available&nbsp;via HDMI adapter .Analog stereo audio can be obtained via a 3.5 mm jack.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #373737;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">In order to boot it you need to connect the monitor, mouse and keyboard, insert the SD card containing the OS you prepared and power it on. If you insert a Ethernet cable it will attempt to acquire a DHCP lease at startup. You should note your login and password details from the Downloads page.One logged in, if you want to switch to gui, just type in <b>"startx" </b>.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #373737;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #373737; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #373737; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This setup is definitely worth a try, nothing fancy should be expected, but it does what is promises very well i.e a cheap computer &nbsp;under $150 that can get you or your toddlers get started with the amazing world of programming.</span></div><div style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #373737;"><b>Disadvantages</b>&nbsp;: &nbsp;Still no support for flash, You will need to use&nbsp;</span><span style="color: #373737;">Raspbmc or OpenELEC on an SD card if u want to watch&nbsp;YouTube&nbsp;Videos.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i><i style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">P.S The prices are quoted keeping in mind that the reader wants to spend bare minimum, it can vary little bit depending on a person's taste.</span></i><br /><i style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Image courtesy: <a href="http://raspberrypi.org/" target="_blank">Raspberry Pi&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;website.</span></i></div></div></div>
